The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
A DICKENS CHARACTER.
a St Louis Man Who Died Last Week Fig
ured Baby in American Notes"


The death of c. R. Garrison, who was the son
of ID. r. Garrison, and who left this world so
horribly by falling down the mining shaft at
Webster City, Monday afternoon, has attracted
a great deal of attention, and has called to the
mind of those who knew him closely the fact
that his advent upon this planet also attracteda
great deal of attention. In the latter case. not
directly in his death. but. nevertheless, more
extensively, because his little life was woven
into the susceptible nature of the great Dickens
and through him became known to nearly all of
the American people. His life ended with a
tragedy; 1T began, to Dickens mind with
drama.
his first tour left the East for trip through
the West. He came out to ST. Louis in that
journey, and by June back in the East.
1t was on his travels from Louisville to ST.
Louis by steamboat that he met with baby,
who figured in scene sweetly described by
the novelist that thousands OF persons Will think
tenderly of the person who made such an I'M
preston on the great writer.
The baby described in what follows was c. r.
Garrison, who then on his way to the home
his little eyes had never seen. The excerpt tells
the rest Few Of those who at yesterdays
ices looked through the coffin lid upon the man
gled features lying still in eternal sleep guessed
that that face over forty years ago, had by its
sleeping peace, touched one OF the greatest
hearts that ever throbbed.
''Dick" Garrison often read and reread with
increasing interest the story of the love with
which his early years We're blest To his most
intimate friends he often read the part of the
American Notes" in which his babyhood is thus
described:
On the fourth night after leaving Louisville
we reached St. Louis and here witnessed the
conclusion of an incident, trifling enough in it
self but very pleasant to see, which had inter-
ested me during the whole journey.
There was little woman on board with
little baby: both little woman and little child
cheerful. good-looking, bright-eyed and
fair to see. The little woman had been passing
long time with her sick mother in New York.
The baby was born in her mothers house. and
she had not seen her husband Ito whom she
months.
him a month or two after their marriage.
Well to be sure. there never was a little wom-
an so full of hope and tenderness and love and
anxiety as this little woman was; and all day
long She wondered whether HE" would be at
the wharf and whether HE" had got her letter:
and whether, if she sent the baby ashore by
somebody else. He" would know it, meeting it
in the street. which, seeing that he had never
seteyes upon it in his life was not very likely in
the abstract, but was probable enough to tho
young mother.
She was such an artless little creature, and
in such sunny. beaming, hopeful state.
and let out all this matter cllnglng close about
her heart SO freely, that all the other lady pas
sengers entered into the spirit of it as much as
she; and the captain twho heard all about it
from his wife) was wondrously sly, l promise
you; inquiring every time we met at table. as
in forgetfulness, whether she expected anybody
to meet her at St Louis. whether she would
want to go ashore the night we reached it (but
he supposed she wouldn't) and cutting many
other dry jokes of that nature
There was one little weazen, dried apple faced
stancy of husbands such circumstances of
bereavement; and there was another lady with
a lap dog nd enough to moraliZe the light
ness of human affections. and yet not so old
that she could help nursing the baby and
then or laughing like the rest when the little
woman called it by its fathers name, and asked
it all manner of fantastic questions concerning
him and the joy of her heart.
1t was something of blow to the little woman,
that when We're within twenty miles of our
destination, it became clearly necessary to put
this baby to bed. But she got over it with the
same good humor; tied handkerchief around
her head and came into the gallery with the
rest
Then such an oracle she became in reference
to the localities! And such righteousness as
was displayed by the married ladies, and such
sympathy as shown by the single ones! and
such peals of laughter the little woman her
self twho would just as soon have cried) greeted
every jest with!
At last there were the lights of ST. Louis, and
here was the wharf, and those were the steps,
ana the little woman, covering her face with her
hands and laughing Tor seeming to laughl more
than ever, ran into her cabin and shut herself
up. / have no doubt that in the charming in
consistency OF such excitement she stopped her
ears. lest she should hear Him asking for her;
but did not see her do it.
Then great crowd of people rushed on board,
though the boat was not yet made fast. but
wandering about, among the other boats, TO
find landing place: and everybody looked for
the husband; and nobody saw him; when, in the
midst of us all-Heaven knows how she ever got
there-there was the little woman clinging with
both arms tight round the neck of fine, good
afterwards, there she again, actually clap
ping her little hands for joy, she dragged him
through the small door of her small cabin, to
look at the baby she lay asleep.